Kosmos 16
| Mission type | Optical imaging |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1963-012A |
| SATCAT № | 571 |
| Mission duration | 10 days[1] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 28 April 1963, 08:49:56 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 |
| Launch site | Baikonur 1/5 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 8 May 1963 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee | 195 kilometres (121 mi) |
| Apogee | 384 kilometres (239 mi) |
| Inclination | 65 degrees |
| Period | 90.3 minutes |
| Epoch | 30 April 1963[3] |
Kosmos 16 (Russian: Космос 16 meaning Cosmos 16) or Zenit-2 No.10 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1963. A Zenit-2 satellite, Kosmos 16 was the tenth of eighty-one such spacecraft to be launched[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb).[1]
A Vostok-2 rocket, serial number E15000-02,[6] was used to launch Kosmos 16. The launch took place at 08:49:56 UTC on 28 April 1963, using Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[2] Following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation, along with the International Designator 1963-012A and the Satellite Catalog Number 571.[1]
Kosmos 16 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 30 April 1963 it had a perigee of 195 kilometres (121 mi), an apogee of 384 kilometres (239 mi), with inclination of 65 degrees and an orbital period of 90.3 minutes. A malfunction of the spacecraft's attitude control system resulted in the satellite being able to return only some of the images which it had been programmed to produce.[5] After ten days in orbit, the spacecraft was deorbited on 8 May 1963.[3] Its return capsule descended under parachute and was recovered by Soviet forces.
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Cosmos 16". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- 1 2 Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 13 December 2013.